HISTORY OF MARINE ARCHITECTURE.

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General Remarks on the proposed System—Superiority which a sharp-built Vessel pos-sesses ,, in particular Cases , over one having a flat Floor , if unprovided with anyadditional Aids—Remarks on the Use of the Rudder , and Effects naturally producedby different Forms ‘given to the After-Body—Explanation of this “Theory—Causeswhich must perpetually prevent the general Adoption of the same Principles of Ma-rine Architecture in all Countries—Advantages attending the Use of the circular aswell as sharp Bow, according to the different Circumstances of its Adoption.

H E principles of perfection in fhip-building, and the excellence of MarineArchitecture, depend on a variety of circumstances which operate against eachother so forcibly, that in all probability, it will be found impossible, to thelatest time, all those qualities should ever be united in one vessel, which may beconsidered most beneficial to navigation. The principal point to be attend-ed to, in forming a ship, whether intended for war or for commerce, are,that it should, in the first instance, be what is called a good sea-boat, or, inother words, that it should be able to endure, with the least possible injury toitself and crew, the shock of winds, and of waves, frequently contendingagainst each other, apparently in dreadful rivalship, which should offer the mostforcible opposition to the aspiring mind of man, imperiously attempting to ren-der the elements themselves subservient to his controul, and attempting to pass,at his pleasure, over tracts and seas, whither Nature seems to have forbidden hisprogress.

The safety of the enterprising adventurers being first provided for, as effec-tually as prudence can dictate, the next care of the shipwright naturally directsitself to enable them to effect the purpose of their voyage, as expeditiously aspossible. Here again arises a fresh obstacle to perfection. A vessel of a largedraught of water being best calculated to make her way against contrary winds,while a second, of flatter construction, being consequently more buoyant, would,under the fortune of a fair breeze, effect its passage in much less time, than anyvessel built on the former principle. If, for example, it were possible to build avessel so flat, that it should not draw more than one foot water, it w r otddevidently outsail, while going large, as it is called, or before the wind, anotherhaving the same contour w'ith respect to its bottom, and drawing two feet. Thereason must be too obvious, even to a person totally unacquainted with theprinciples of navigation, to need explanation. The ingenious invention ofthe sliding keel explains, by its effect, this point in the clearest and most

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